The early part of October has been so busy for the club with many swimmers competing in both individual and team galas in varying venues around the North-East.

The emphasis on improvement of personal best times, a total of 958 being set since the beginning of the month by all age groups at all distances whilst bringing newcomers through the lower age groups with outstanding success and giving established swimmers a chance to try out new distances at all strokes inn different grades of events.

The result has been encouraging with success throughout the team generating a strong team spirit second to none and creating a springboard for the remainder of the year and into next season, keeping the club as one of the most rapidly improving clubs in the region.

Hebburn was the location at the turn of the month where Northallerton swimmers competed for the Moors swim squad in the South Tyneside Open even.

Sara Dee Hannay was unstoppable taking seven golds and two silvers over the weekend. Graham Caygill, 11, went on to win the 50m breaststroke narrowly missing out entry into the 13 and under skins final with young hopeful Ben Wilbor taking gold in the nine-year-old 50m breaststroke.

Gareth Waton swam with great determination to reach the skins final in the 14 and over breaststroke. Emily Shaw earned herself a silver medal 100m breaststroke narrowly missing gold by the smallest of margins.

The following Saturday Northallerton had 29 swimmers competing in the Moors league individual gala held at Eston. In a long afternoon of events there were some tenacious performances by all competing. With a limitation of two strokes per swimmer Stephen Lane, nine, and Zara Dee Hannay, ten, won both their events with Zara breaking the Moors league 25m freestyle record (15.64) in the process.

Once again Ben Wilbor, nine, was successful in the 25m breast, Emily Shaw in the 11-12-years girls breaststroke and Adele Carmichael in the 13-14-years girls breaststroke. Strong performances were also produced by Emily Brayshaw, Chris Armstrong, Georgina Mitchell, Katie Thompson, Jayne Truman, Graham Caygill, Sarah Hope, Laura Hugill, Chris Horner, Ralph Stokeld, Josh Leggott, Oliver Wray, Gemma Noble and Gareth Watson. With Northallerton taking silver in the Cannon relay. It rounded off a successful afternoon swimming.

Two weeks ago NASC ascended on the Neptune Centre, Middlesbrough, to compete in the first half of the N and D Graded Series 2002. Between the 25 swimmers taking part they managed to achieve a total of 28 personal bests with five competitors Jayne Truman, Abbie Thompson, Adele Carmichael (2), Adam Lister and Sarah Hope setting new clubs records at the grueling 200m distance at varying strokes.

Adding to the list of achievements with hard-earned personal bests were Ben Wilbor (2), Laura Caygill (3), Katie Thompson (3), Samantha McVay, Ewan Lister (2), Francesca Martin and Heather Coombes (2). Adam Lister came out of the weekend event with merit achieving a place in no less than four events.

Club coach Barbara Blades was full of praise for her swimmers commenting on their durability over the longer events and how team spirit is so evident among the squad.